AAPLE-Walk: A novel gait-mimicking exercise machine for cardiovascular fitness and rehabilitation - Market Assessment application

我们提出的发明是基于主动臂被动腿部运动（AAPLE）机器（即手臂运动驱动瘫痪腿部运动的机器），这是一种改善脊髓损伤患者心血管（CV）健康的运动形式。我们的原型，aapple - walk，扩展了这一概念，允许完全下肢瘫痪的人在站立时用手臂驱动行走。使用apple - walk，用户站在改良的椭圆型锻炼机上。用户的手臂运动可以用来驱动他们的腿在不同强度的步行模式适合心血管健身。aapple - walk在负重时驱动同步步态运动的能力，为康复运动治疗提供了可能，类似于昂贵的步态训练器或外骨骼提供的治疗。我们的设备还可以在身体条件允许的情况下与积极的腿部运动一起使用，以及左/右臂/腿输入的任何组合，为具有各种行动限制（例如中风，神经系统疾病，衰老）的人提供了受益的可能性。我们最近有一个完全脊髓损伤的人展示了独立使用全功能apple - walk原型。我们相信，一种能够以廉价的包装提供心血管运动、负重和步态训练相结合的设备具有巨大的市场潜力。但是，虽然我们的发明取得了重大进展，但还需要进一步的工程研究来进一步提高设备的可用性、性能和功能。在开展这项工作之前，需要对整个市场有更深入的了解。通过市场评估获得的知识将用于确认市场规模，并为进一步投入研发资源提供信心，以及将我们的开发工作重点放在特定市场需求和/或增加设备功能上，使更广泛的用户群体成为可能。我们还将确定潜在的公司合作伙伴，并制定一项市场进入计划，该计划将考虑推出适应性运动器械产品的具体特点。

Our proposed invention is based on Active Arm Passive Leg Exercise (AAPLE) machines (i.e. machines where arm motion drives paralyzed leg motion), a form of exercise that improves cardiovascular (CV) health in people with spinal cord injury. Our prototype, the AAPLE-Walk, extends this concept to allow for arm driven walking motion while standing for people with complete lower limb paralysis. With AAPLE-Walk, a user is stand-supported on a modified elliptical-type exercise machine. The user's arm movements can be used to drive their legs in walking patterns at variable intensities appropriate for CV fitness. The ability of AAPLE-Walk to drive synchronized gait-like movements while weight bearing opens up the possibility of rehabilitation locomotor therapy similar to that provided by expensive gait trainers or exoskeletons. Our device can also be used with active leg movements when physically possible, and any combination of left/right arm/leg inputs, opening up the possibility of it benefitting people with a wide range of mobility limitations (e.g. stroke, neurological conditions, aging). We have recently had a person with a complete spinal cord injury demonstrate independent use of a fully-functioning AAPLE-Walk prototype. We believe that a device that can provide the combination of benefits of CV exercise, weight bearing, and gait training in an inexpensive package has significant market potential. But while we have made significant progress with our invention, additional engineering research is needed to further the usability, performance, and functionality of the device. Before moving forward with this work, a greater understanding of the overall market is needed. The knowledge gained through this market assessment will be used to confirm market size and provide confidence to invest further R & D resources as well as focus our development efforts to target specific market need and/or add device features that enable a wider population of users. We will also identify potential company partners and scope a go-to-market plan that considers the specific characteristics of launching an adapted exercise machine product.